Tricky Tankmate Suggestions - Help!~

[Miles]

Ok MFK I am calling you all out to see if you can give me some new ideas for a tank I am preparing to set-up..

Currently I have a 16" BGK and an 8" Elephant Nose Mormyrid in a 55g tank togethor.. They are going to be split up into their own 'Biotope' theme tanks based on region. The BGK is going in a 90g S.A. tank, and the Elephant Nose will be the focus of a 55g community.

I need help choosing tankmates for the Elephant Nose.

I already have a few in mind, such as African Butterfly Fish.. I plan on having 1, 2, or maybe even 3.. It depends on the other tankmates.

I also plan on having a rope fish, and possibly some eels.

My Problem: The elephant nose is overly aggressive towards any 'open water' type tankmates.

I have tried geos, corys, angels, ctenopoma, and a whole array of other semi-aggresive tankmates.. He chases anything relentlessly that swims in the bottom to mid-level of the tank, other then the BGK and in-animant swimming fish such as plecos and eels. He completely ignores plecos and small 'dither' fish like danios.. This is why I think a rope fish and eel might make good tankmates. He would also ignore the Butterfly fish because he never goes towards the top of the tank.

I need some sort of other 'swimming' fish to share focus in with him, preferably brightly colored.. Has to be from Africa.

Keep in mind: The elephant nose has a small mouth and will only accept bloodworms/blackworms.. They will have to be opportunistic feeders, and can not be too aggressive during feeding, or a glutton that will hog all the food..

A few things I had in mind;
-Ctenopoma.. Unfortunately not aggressive enough to hold it's own, and becomes very reclusive.
-Kribensis.. Too small, and get's chased alot.. won't stick up for themselves.
-Datnoids.. Too damn expensive.. and they are too 'trendy' right now, IMO..
-Jewels.. Would work perfect, could defend their own and would be a great addition.. 2 problems though, overly aggressive during breeding, and too aggressive when it comes to dinnier time.
-Bichir.. Tried this before, he would chase them all the time.. Wondering if the more stationary rope fish would work better.
-Congo Tetras.. A very nice effect in a large school, but they can get really expensive to obtain the appropriate size.. but sure would be a nice fit.
-Marie Tilapia? Perhaps one of the smaller and more peaceful species of Tilapia.. I remember reading about a Zebra tilapia that looks alot like a Butti, but maxed at 5-6" and is semi-aggressive..
-Asian Stream Loach.. Not exactly from Africa, but would be a cool oddball.. but I want more open water fish, less bottom dweller..
-Loaches.. Could find some nice loaches to go with, such as Yo-Yos or Chain Botias, but they would be bottom dwellers and the Elephant nose would like chase all the time.


OK- With that said.. Anyone have SUGGESTIONS for a good tankmate for this guy?

 

[luinar]

i have rope fish and butterfly fish.. if you have enough space i would get a couple butterflies.. i find mine is happiest alone and being fed live food.. crickets make him much braver and he likes to proudly swim about the tank after a kill.. pellet foods and stuff seem to keep him hiding in the plants and faded in color.. and the rope fish is the coolest ever.. he hangs out with the dwarf aquatic frog.. (go figure) the frog sits on its head all the time.. but i think you would want a few of them or it will spend alot of time trying to play with its reflection in the side of the tank.

 

[Daniel Machado]

Miles,

What about some more elephant noses? A group of 5 would look nice hanging around, and they are said to be somewhat social. I'd go with a ropefish, some african butterfly fishes and some congo tetras, if not a group of mormyrids. My 0.02

Best regards.

Daniel.

 

[Miles]

He had a partner a while ago, and killed it. He's really an anti-social elephant nose and has grown up in isolation with another electrical fish (BGK).. I think if I tried to do a group I would have the problem of him being the dominator and killing the others, and I would also have a hard time finding more than few at his max size of 8"+..

Even if I did find 4-5 to go with him with matching sizes, I believe the concept of the mormyrids being 'group' fish to be untrue. Everytime I see them in LFS, no matter what species, there is always a dominant one and a tank full of sick ones. Perhaps in the wild they are social with all the space, territory, and frequences available.. but in captivity, man, all I ever see if mormyrids kick the crap out of each other..

 

[Miles]

Bump for the experts!! Someone has to have other suggestions at a fish that would work?

Any idea where I can get some 6" Ctenopoma at a good price?